The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-06-12
SO NEARLY ESTRANGED.

graceful, would have disturbed the heart
Of an anchorite; her large dark eyes, full
of sparkle when she was merry and soft
ening when her features were in repose,
were just such eyes as most men like to
meet. Parted in front, her rich black
hair tell in Wavy masses down her match
less shoulders, forming pleasing contrast
with the white, rounded neck and the rich
complexion. In addition 10 such attractions
were those Of the voice and laugh. The
former was music itself; the latter was
like the ripping, twiltering melody Of
many drops from fountain tallinglnto a
hollow basin
To look at her one would have thought
hers a nature which could never grieve;
but such was not the case. On the con-
trary, in spite of her lovely manner, Bell
Bronson possessed a heart full of SYM
paihy and often wept when alone over the
sufferings of others, In more substantial
manner thau by tears she would endeavor
to soothe the afflicted. Her pulse, though
never overstocked, was often open to help
the poor.
Ii was in the time when people were
arrested for debt Her own father had,
when she was child, died in prison be-
cause he could not pay his creditors.
Since then, by music-lessons and by other
means, her mother had contrived to main
tain herself and her daugher until the lat
ter was old enough to assist her, when
they succeeded in laying by sWall sum
for rainy day."
Atseyenteen Bell was engaged to a
=: 10 cd Harry Richards
a noble Young man, who never practised
his profession except in the right cause.
The loveis resided near each other, Rich
ards occurring a SIN Ill cottage opposite
the house of his betrothed, whose bright
face at the window often cheered him in
midst of his day-studies and perhaps drew
him a little TO much away from them. 1t
was indeed sweet recreation TO the yoang
LAWYER to look up, now and then, to see
the bright eyes Of the young woman be
loved peering laughingly at him through
the windowpapes.
One day Bell observed slender young
man enter the lawyers cottage. After
that she noticed that her lover, even when
in her company, seemed thoughtful and
distracted. She asked him what made him
so. when he answered that a friend OF
his Tom Brace-a rather wild young
man, had run himself into debt and liable
any nome MT to be arrested. She learned
thai the slender youth she had seen enter
his cottage was the person he alluded to.
Finally the brow of Richards cleared,
and Bell was as merry as bird over the
change. She forebore questioning him,
but she doubted not that he had found
some way to help his friend. A week
passed; the day fixed for the union of tue
young couple was fast approaching.
Bel " said Richards TO the girl one
evening, II believe our weddag day was
: to have been on the 18th of the present
month, was it not, dearr"
A blush and pressure OF the baud was
the sweet response.
Excuse me, but if your are willing we
win put 1t off-well, say two weeks later. /"
Bell turned aside her head and slightly
pouted but female modesty prevented
her disapproval. Curiosity, however,
made her playfully inquire his reason for
this change.
you will pardon me-" he answered,
sshut not even to you, dearest, must ex-
plain my reason,
Another pout, but he kissed it away
sYou shall know eventually" he said
before departing.
A few days later Bell was at the win
dow. when she saw female enter Rich
ards cottage, She id not see the visitors
face but she did not fail to notice that
her hair was beautiful, of "a light chestnut
and falling in thick masses down her
shoulders. An hour passed, and still she
did not see the lady leave, the house A
hot flush mounted on the watchers cheek
and she tapped the floor rest 'essly with
her high-neeled slippers. Suddenly she
bebeld sight which made her feel sick
and faint Richards was now near the
window, so that she could see plainly the
sight which so shocked her. Ina word,
the lady visitor had advanced to the law
yer's side and put both arms around his
neck. The young lawyers old house
keeper, Martha Warren, was in the room
at the same time. There she stood near
the window. looking on with an air of the
utmost indifference.
Instinctively Bell dropped tie curtain of
her window and, burying her face in her
hands, wept like child, He had wanted
to put off their wedding-day. Alas, what
perfdyl He had seen another young lady
whom he doubtless loved better than Bell,
and that was why he had not been willing
to explain the reason when she asked
him.
How could she doubt il? Had she not
seen the visitor embrace her lover? Surely
her eyes could not have deceived her. TO
make assurance doubly sure, however, she
would look again. She did SO, and there
sat the lad5-yisilor, still with an arm
around Richards neck, and the brazen
housekeeper looking on. Bell was now
peeping through the curtain, so that Rich
ards, who. now and then, looked uneaslly
fowar1s her w niOW c)Td not see her
No wonder he felt uneasy How much
more so would he feel did he know she
was watching himl
But poor Bell had now seen enough.
She drew back and, throwing herself upon
u lounge, sobbed as if her heart would
break, feeling that her peace in this woL
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